Russian Revolution Flashcards
Tsarism
Russia before the revolution. i.e ruled by the Tsar
February Revolution
end of Tsarism
Provisional Government
coalition of liberals and moderate socialists: feb to oct 1917
October Revolution 1917
coup d’etat by the Bolshevik party against provisional government
Bolshevik party
small marxist party led by Vladimir Lenin (changed to the Russia communist party)
Russia in 1900
Autocratic political system
- Nicholas II
Peasant society
-125 million population –> 90% peasants
Tsarist Russia as a modernizing country
-growing cities
-developing civil society
-professional groups running services via local government i,e doctors, lawyers etc
challenges of modernisation
-poor conditions in new industrial areas
-civil society questioned government’s monopoly of power
-land hunger and peasant unrest
-revolutionary movement (marxists and socialists)
February Revolution: key dates: 23th of february
international womens day
strikes and demonstrations in Petrograd; grew in strength in following days
February Revolution: key dates: 27 february
the day of revolution
Petrograd garrison mutinied
petrograd soviet formed
provisional committee of the Duma formed
February Revolution: key dates: 2nd of march
Nicholas II abdicates
provisional government formed
February Revolution: points to note
not an anti war revolution
abdication intended to prevent revolution
Nicholas II in abdicating did not think he was ending Romanov rule
very limited involvement of revolutionary parties
opened doors for radicals
provisional government was weak because..
-dual power (liberals and socialists) –> reflected influence of Petrograd soviet of provisional government
-rural unrest
-committed to Allies in WW1 (army desertion grew)
centrifugalism
Lenin’s “April Theses” - key points
- Bolsheviks will not support provisional government
Russia revolution will soon enter a second phase
all power should be transferred to soviets
The “April Theses” helped Bolsheviks gain more support in 1917 as:
- other socialists parties supported the provisional government
-the “April Theses” contained policies that would become increasingly popular